Day 5: the teahouse at the end of the road 🍵 (family-run for 13 generations)
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#amazakechaya#hakone

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5

3 Weeks ago

The Old Tokaido Highway
This ancient highway was built and used during the Edo period to be used for travel between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). The stone paved road is compared to Tatami mats as it seems as if the stones are almost woven together. The travel was done mostly on foot but in some special cases (royals) would be done by Kago (a small seat that would be carried). Along the road you can stop at the Amazake Chaya Teahouse and drink Amazake (a fermented rice drink made from the excess of sake.

Amazake Chaya tea house on the Tokaido Road.
This teahouse, with a traditional thatched roof and cedar tree stump stools, has served as a rest stop for travellers on the Tokaido road for four centuries - conquering armies, royals, samurai, pilgrims and the two of us among them. It remains relatively unchanged since the Edo period in terms of design, atmosphere and menu, and is currently run by the 13th generation descendants of the original owners.
They serve a sweet, fermented rice drink Amazake (sake) that is one of the yummiest drinks I’ve ever had. We ordered a second round of the hot winter amazake and got a discount and many arigato gozaimases for liking it. And they serve mochi rice cakes and this thing miso-oden that looks like river stones (pic). The traffic on this historic road was strictly controlled by the shogun in its time. As one of the tactics to reduce the potential for rebellions and in-fighting, the Tokugawa Shogunate officially ordered the ‘daimyo’, feudal lords that had pledged allegiance, to regularly hold elaborate, glorious processions down this road. Higher the rank, the bigger the procession and the show-off, the lesser the remaining resources to plan revolts. Full marks for cleverness! Now that’s what I call politics. .
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#amazakechaya#teahouse#japan#historic#site#japanhistory#travel#travelgram#explore#hakone#fascinating#historylesson#tokaido#road#reststop#japanarchitecture#iphoneography#instatravel#instavideo#travelstories#busstop

When the map said “Old Tokaido Road” I was assuming it would be like, a road...and not a cobblestone path up and down the mountain. But this teahouse is worth the 30 minute climb. I think there’s a bus down (which means there was a bus up...oh well) #amazakechaya#advencherinhakone#unintendedworkout
Food Verdict:
Amazake: amazing. Tastes like Horlicks but stronger and thicker and with bits of rice inside
Mochi: very very very chewy. But the sesame was good.

When I travel, I always make it a point to hit up some great tea houses on top of the usual bubble tea shops. 🍵 This time, I visited Amazake-chaya in Hakone, Japan. They are known for their amasake, a sweet non-alcoholic sake. 🍶 Also pictured are 3 types of chikara mochi -- isobe (soy sauce), kurogoma (black sesame), and uguisu (soy bean powder).🍡 Be sure to visit for some gorgeous views and free unlimited ocha with your order~ 🍃

Yvon Chouinard once said “It’s not an adventure until something goes wrong.” It’s those bumps in the road (or water or sky) that make the adventure. We went to Hakone for the day and all the transportation (buses, cable cars, and pirate ships) that were included in the all-day transportation pass we already purchased were suspended due to weather ❌ @llcooolsmith and I rolled with the punches...we hiked on a muddy, mosquito-filled, sketchy, steep trail to seemingly nowhere and still got to this beautiful Torii gate on Lake Ashi ⛩, a 400+ year old tea house 🍵, and the nicest onsen I’ve ever been to 🛀🏽 #hakone#japan#traveljapan#discoverjapan#torii#lakeshii#mtfuji#onsen#amazakechaya#amazake#mochi#teahouse#tea

One of the highlights of my short trip was our walk through the Old Tokaido Trail - the stone paved highway which once linked Tokyo with Kyoto during the feudal Edo Period. Today the trail is located between Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi.
I was reminded of scenes from Totoro and Spirited Away during the walk.
We emerged to find an old tea house, Amazake Chaya, where we ordered kurogoma kinako mochi (black sesame grilled mochi) & a very welcome azuki kakigori. All was very delicious.

It started off with quite a rainy and windy morning. We left the camping site via a shorter route through the woods this time. The Hakone Cruise was closed for the day due to strong wind. At the end, we managed to hike the famous Old Takaido Highway, had a cup of amazake, and visited Tenzan Onsen. It was our first onsen experience and I must admit it was quite... Interesting :) #lakeashi#ashinoko#hakone#oldtokaidohighway#amazakechaya#tenzanonsen#onsen

Took a Tozan bus [Hakone Kyukaido Line] and stopped by this tea house that specializes in Amazake, a drink made ​​from fermented rice in the sake family but in a non-alcoholic version [¥400]. Pair it with their chikara mochi, glutinous rice cakes which come in 3 flavors. Our flavors of choice were Uguisu; sweet young soy bean powder & Kurogoma; uguisu mixed with black sesame [¥500/2pcs]. End it with an iced matcha and you’ll be good to continue with your journey in Hakone!⛩
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📍 Amazake-Chaya Tea House, Hakone
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